Biography

Wietske Merison (1997) is an artist, scholar, and writer from the Netherlands. She was born on the Grebbeberg in Rhenen, Utrecht, and is currently living in Indonesia, where she works as an Associate Fellow at the International Islamic University of Indonesia. 

Music | When she was five years old, Wietske first started playing the violin. Ever since, music has been an important part of her life as a primary form of self-expression and reflection. She completed the preparatory program at the ArtEZ conservatory for jazz/pop singing and composition when she was in high school, but decided to pursue a university education instead. Ever since, she has recorded two studio albums, Witness and Reminder, composed over forty choral works, and has performed internationally as a singer and musician. 

Art | In her paintings and visual art, Wietske expresses complex ideas and experiences through symbolism. Her works are inspired by nature, scripture, and her personal experiences. She often portrays living figures within a dreamscape of complex patterns and ornaments. Here, she is clearly inspired by her favorite painter, Gustav Klimt. 

Scholarship | As an interdisciplinary scholar, Wietske has an educational background in Islamic theology and law, anthropology, and international law (human rights and environmental law). She is currently in her final year as a doctoral candidate at UCLA School of Law, where she aims to articulate an Islamic framework for environmental justice under the supervision of Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl. 

Writing | Both inside and outside the world of academia, Wietske is a prolific writer. She has written and published many essays and articles on various international academic and literary platforms. She has written a collection of forty essays reflecting on the lessons about faith, ethics, and the environment to be learned from forty different birds, called Gift from the Heavens. She is also a poet and the author of four Dutch children’s books in collaboration with Saida Franken at Salaam Art. 

Chaplaincy | Wietske is a certified Muslim and interfaith chaplain with experience in university, nursing home, and end-of-life chaplaincy.